Problems · NHTSA complaints
2001 Ford Crown Victoria problems
Owners filed 84 complaints about the 2001 Ford Crown Victoria with NHTSA between Apr 2001 and Aug 2021. The most-cited component is engine and engine cooling (14).
Complaints
84
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
10
Reported by owners
Fires
4
Reported by owners
Injuries
8
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Engine and engine cooling14
- Electrical system9
- Vehicle speed control9
- Air bags8
- Steering7
- Suspension6
- Fuel system, gasoline6
- Seat belts5
- Service brakes, hydraulic5
- Engine3
- Tires3
- Exterior lighting3
- Visibility2
- Power train2
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
19
11
9
4
11
2
8
6
2
4
2
0
1
0
2
1
0
0
1
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 19 |
| 2002 | 11 |
| 2003 | 9 |
| 2004 | 4 |
| 2005 | 11 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 8 |
| 2008 | 6 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 4 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 0 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 0 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 0 |
| 2018 | 0 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 1 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Engine and engine cooling
14 reports1 fire
“2001 FORD CROWN VICTORIA ON A STEEP HILL BLEW OUT THE #1 SPARK PLUG FROM IT'S CYLINDER. THE EJECTED SPARK PLUG HAD BEEN INSTALLED MORE THAN A YEAR PRIOR, WITH NO PREVIOUS PROBLEMS. THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER DRIVABLE. *TR”
Electrical system
9 reports1 fire
“WHEN AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT STOPPED AND THE AIR CONDITIONING IS ON HIGH THE TURN SIGNALS PERIODICALLY RAPIDLY FLASH. THE AUDIBLE CLICKING OF THE TURN SIGNALS CLICKS FAST AS WELL. THE BULBS ARE NOT BLOWN. IT HAPPENS RANDOMLY OR IT DOES HAPPEN.”
Vehicle speed control
9 reports2 crashes1 fire
“WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING LOT THE CAR ACCELERATED AND I MISSED A PARKED CAR AND WAS ABLE TO STOP. I WAS GOING ABOUT 5MPH AND IT ACCELERATED VERY FAST NOT SURE MPH BUT IT WAS SCARY. I HAPPENED SEPT. 14, 2011. *TR”
Air bags
8 reports5 crashes2 related recalls
“CONSUMERS VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL CRASH WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 45 TO 50 MPH, UPON IMPACT FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY, SHOULDER BELT FAILED TO RESTRAIN DRIVER, DRIVER EXPERIENCED MUSCLE PAINS IN NECK/SHOULDER, AND BACK AREAS, INSURANCE COMPANY CONCLUDED THE AIR BAG SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED.*AKCONSUMER STATED MANUFACTURER AND DEALER ARE NOT WILLING TO ASSIST IN FINDING OUT WHY THE RESTRAINT SYSTEM FAILED, CONSUMER STATED THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DID DEPLOY, HOWEVER THE DRIVER SIDE DID NOT.*JB”
Steering
7 reports1 crash1 related recall
“THE STEERING SHAFT IS CREAKING WHEN YOU TURN AND ALOTTA PLAY IN THE STEERING SOUNDS LIKE IT'S ABOUT TO SNAP IT HAPPENS IN THE CITY AND HIGHWAY WHEN I TURN OR BEAR LEFT OR RIGHT THE PIC THE SHAFT THING ON THE LEFT IS A PICTURE OF THE PART HAPPENS WHEN I'M IN MOTION AND EVEN WHEN I'M STATIONARY AND I TURN THE STEERING WHEEL HAS NOT CAUSED A WRECK YET BUT FEELS LIKE IT WOULD IF THAT PART BRAKES.”
Suspension
6 reports
“I WAS PULLING OUT THE DRIVEWAY WHEN THE REAR AXLE SNAPPED IN TWO. THIS IS GOING TO KILL SOMEONE. *TR”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.